The third week of Advent is always focused on the theme of joy. When this season was first introduced for the liturgical calendar, it was conceived as a “mini-Lent,” a time to be somber and reflective leading up to the celebration of Christmas.
When the practice of lighting a candle every Sunday was incorporated into the observance, they were originally all purple, until someone decided that they needed a break from the gloom. They declared a mid-season Sunday to be known as Gaudette Sunday (Gaudette meaning joy), swapped one of the purple candles out for a pink one, and a time to be joyful was born.
It’s increasingly rare to find a church that insists on being depressed for the entirety of Advent. When the surrounding culture is literally lit up like a Christmas tree, it can be difficult for people to switch gears even for an hour or two each week. That, and there’s plenty to be sad about already. Why pile on in a place that claims to have good news?
Throughout 2024, I’ve been trying to find joy every day. There is indeed plenty that gives cause for despair, but I decided that I wanted to seek out the moments large and small that make me smile, laugh, feel warmth and contentment in the midst of so much sadness.
As part of this focus, I bought a little weekly logbook to help me keep track of those times when I’ve felt joy. Here’s a non-exhaustive sampling:
- Good sleep
- Coffee
- Air conditioning
- Playing music
- Pet snuggles
- Pizza Night
- Book Release Day
- Wing Chun
- Watching my son in the marching band
- Reading my novel to my wife
- Attending Akron Pride
- Apple fritters
- My daughter’s birthday party
- Rain
- Putting up Halloween decorations
- Visiting my undergrad alma mater
- Work-related compliments
- Seeing Alanis Morrissette in concert
- Seeing Jennifer Knapp in concert
- Exercise
- Writing
- Sitting on the beach
- Silly TikTok videos
As you can see, the list on any given day can be quite a wide range. But that’s part of the point.
Keeping this logbook has been quite a successful and deeply meaningful practice. It has not only invited me to watch for how each moment or activity may stir joy for me, but over time it helped me cultivate a different view of the world around me.
I’ll bid farewell and give thanks for this practice after year’s end. But I’ll keep a Gaudette candle burning within, continuing to watch for joy long after.
If you enjoyed this reflection, check out my Advent book, Four Weeks: Reflections for Advent.
Jeffrey A. Nelson 